Bishop Michael named Interim Rector of St. Tikhon’s Seminary
SOUTH CANAAN, PA [NY/NJ Diocesan Communications]
8/8/2012
On April 25, 2012, His Eminence, Archbishop Tikhon submitted a letter of resignation as Rector of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary here to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah and members of the Holy Synod of Bishops.
During the Spring Session of the Holy Synod May 7-10, 2012, Metropolitan Jonah, with the concurrence of all the hierarchs, accepted His Eminence’s resignation, effective August 1, 2012. At the most recent meeting of the Lesser Synod on July 5, 2012, Metropolitan Jonah appointed His Grace, Bishop Michael, as Interim Rector of the seminary.
In a letter to the seminary community dated July 31, 2012—the full text is found below—Archbishop Tikhon explained his decision to resign, noting that the “single and fundamental reason for my decision is the reality of the full time work required within the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania.” He also emphasized that his decision “did not arise from any sense of frustration with, or disappointment in, anyone on the Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty or Staff of the Seminary,” and he expressed his joy at continuing as a member of the Board of Trustees and as a participant in the sacred task of theological education.
Bishop Michael has begun working with the Seminary Dean, Archpriest Alexander Atty, in preparations for the new academic year. A large incoming class is expected and the faculty, staff and administration are busy making arrangements to welcome the new and returning seminarians for the challenges of the new year.
Bishop Michael stated that he and the entire seminary community are grateful to Archbishop Tikhon for his yeoman service to the theological school over the many years that he has taught as professor and the past seven years he has served as Rector.
Bishop Michael noted that his own goal is to continue the rich legacy of Archbishop Tikhon and Father Alexander—a legacy of spiritually forming and theologically educating future clergy for the Orthodox Church in this country and beyond, a legacy initially inspired by Saint Tikhon of Moscow, who envisioned a school to form priests in South Canaan while he was Archbishop in America, and a legacy carried into our own time by Saint Nikolai of Zhicha, who served the last years of his life as Rector of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary.
Father Alexander expressed his gratitude to Archbishop Tikhon for the support, guidance, and love he has shown during Father Alexander’s tenure at the seminary helm. “We know that the love Archbishop Tikhon has for the seminary community is shared by Bishop Michael, and all of us here at the seminary look forward to the continuation of the support of both of these great warriors for Christ.”
The text of Archbishop Tikhon’s letter reads as follows.
“To the members of the Administration, Faculty, Staff, Board of Trustees, Alumni and Seminarians of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary: Christ is in our midst!
“Since 2005, I have served as the Rector of the Orthodox Theological Seminary of Saint Tikhon of Zadonsk, a position that has given me the great blessing of participating in the sacred work of preparing young men for service in the Orthodox Church. At the same time, I have also served as the ruling hierarch for the diocese of Philadelphia and Eastern Pennsylvania, which is likewise a rewarding, yet very demanding, position. Both the Diocese and the Seminary are important institutions within the Orthodox Church in America and each has unique and demanding pastoral and administrative needs.
“While I have felt great joy in fulfilling my responsibilities in both the Diocese and the Seminary, it has become increasingly apparent to me that the changing and growing administrative needs in each institution were making it more difficult for one person to adequately address those needs. In prayerfully considering many factors, I have come to the conclusion that it is not possible for me to serve both the Diocese and the Seminary without compromising the stability and integrity of each institution.
“Therefore, after much prayer and consultation, I wrote a letter on April 25, 2012, to His Beatitude, Metropolitan Jonah, and to the Holy Synod of Bishops in which I submitted my resignation as Rector of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary. This letter was reviewed by the Holy Synod during its Spring Session (May 7-10, 2012) and, with the concurrence of all the hierarchs, Metropolitan Jonah accepted my resignation, effective August 1, 2012.
The single and fundamental reason for my decision is the reality of the full time work required within the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania. The issues faced in this diocese, like other dioceses, are very complex and they require my full time attention as diocesan hierarch. Since the position of Rector of the Seminary is likewise a full time position, I have felt for some time that I could not devote the time and attention that both the Seminary and the Diocese required. Therefore, it seemed clearly evident to me that I needed to withdraw from one of the institutions in order to focus exclusively on the other.
“My choice to withdraw from the Seminary was based solely on the needs of my diocese and does not arise from any sense of frustration with, or disappointment in, anyone on the Board of Trustees, Administration, Faculty or Staff of the Seminary. Although there have been, and continue to be, many challenges and difficulties facing the Seminary, none of those is the reason for my decision and none of them take away from the joy that I have felt in serving as Rector of the Seminary.
“Historically, the position of Rector of the Seminary has been filled by the Bishop of Philadelphia. However, while the governing documents of the seminary call for the involvement of the Bishop of Philadelphia as a member of the Board of Trustees, they do not mandate that he serve as the Rector. Although I am resigning as Rector, I will continue on as a member of the Board of Trustees of the Seminary and am in no way cutting off my personal or hierarchical relationship with Saint Tikhon’s Seminary or any seminary of the Orthodox Church in America; nor am I severing the very positive relationship that the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania has with the Seminary.
“I believe that my decision is a disinterested one that will be beneficial to the Diocese of Eastern Pennsylvania and Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and I am grateful to the Holy Synod for their trust in me during the years I have served as Rector. On July 5, 2012, Metropolitan Jonah appointed His Grace, Bishop Michael as Interim Rector for Saint Tikhon’s Seminary and this appointment was confirmed by the other hierarchs. I have offered my assistance to His Grace during the next few months of transition but I am confident that his previous service to the Seminary as its Dean and as Professor will make this a smooth transition and will be greatly beneficial to the Seminary Community. Please give him your full support and cooperation as we approach the new academic year.
“In conclusion, I would like to ask forgiveness of every member of the Saint Tikhon’s Seminary Community for any way that I have hurt or offended you and for all my weaknesses as Rector. I look forward to continuing my support of Saint Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, to developing the good relationship I have with the members of the Administration, the Faculty and the Board of Trustees and to offer my encouragement to all the Seminarians, both those currently enrolled and all the alumni and graduates. May the Lord Jesus Christ continue to strengthen you in your labors, your ministries and your studies within our sacred theological institution.”
